President

DENVER – Speaking from outside a meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota held in advance of the Republican National Convention, Republican Party of Kentucky chair Steve Robertson said delegates and elected officials cheered when they heard the news Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was selected as Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) running mate.

"We've obviously been anxiously awaiting the announcement of the pick," said Robertson. "Everyone is ecstatic."

Robertson said the first-term Governor was a useful addition to the ticket while taking a swipe at Palin's newfound Democratic counterpart – vice-presidential nominee and U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.).

"Governor Palin, unlike Joe Biden, bings something to McCain's candidacy," said Robertson.

DENVER – As Democratic delegates begin returning back to the Bluegrass state after a week in Denver at the Democratic National Convention, they are being hit with the news that presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz), has added a relative unknown in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to his ticket.

Kentucky Democratic Party chairwoman Jennifer Moore fired back at the news today, labeling Palin's pick as "more of the same" from McCain.

Moore focused on Palin's lack of certain kinds of experience, given her two years of service as a Governor and a spell as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

"This is a person that has zero foreign policy experience," said Moore. "She has zero credibility with world leaders."
"Compare that to Senator Obama's pick of Joe Biden," said Moore, referring to the Democrats' vice-presidential nominee.

DENVER – While noting that she respects any woman involved in public service, the highest ranking elected woman in the state of Kentucky doubts Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is prepared for the vice presidency.

Noting Palin was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska just two years ago, state Auditor Crit Luallen (D-Frankfort) asked, "Is she ready to be one step away from being leader of the free world?"

Speaking to PolitickerKY.com, Luallen said she was unsure Palin had the experience for the job.

"I have to question her readiness, her experience, and her leadership expertise," said Luallen.

Abortion became a subject for the talking heads when news broke that U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) might go with a pro-choice running mate.

In reality, however, Mainers are much more concerned with energy costs and the economy, sources say.

Palin is pro-life, and chose to have a disabled child, making it a hard point for the Democrats to drive home.

As Maine Goes, the conservative message board for Maine politics, was buzzing with news about the VP pick today, said editor Scott Fish. At 4 p.m., the thread about the pick had 119 replies and 2,447 page views, Fish said.

About 90 percent of the posters were excited about the pick, including some who had been weary about McCain.

Chris Potholm, a political science professor at Bowdoin College, said this will help those to the far right who said McCain was too moderate.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) has a background in hunting, fishing and snowmobiling, and some Republicans say this will make U.S. Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) ticket very attractive in the 2nd Congressional District.

"McCain can't win the second district," said Chris Potholm, a political science professor at Bowdoin College. "But she can win it for him."

EN ROUTE TO ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate is playing well in Colorado Springs, said El Paso County GOP Chair Nathan Fisk.

"I haven't talked to a single person who's disappointed," Fisk told PolitickerCO.com on Friday. "It's really an outstanding choice. It's really perfect."

Palin also shows "a clear contrast" between McCain and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the Democratic nominee who chose U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his running mate, Fisk said.

"It's one thing to say that you're for women's rights and there's no glass ceiling, and it's another to pick a woman as your vice president," Fisk said.

U.S. Sen John McCain (R-Ariz.) selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate Friday in Dayton, Ohio. As the news was breaking, Politicker.com was reporting the reaction from our states across the country. Check out all of our coverage here.

How will Sarah Palin play in New Hampshire? Specifically, how will she play with Hillary’s voters?

Two-part answer:

When U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced this morning that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) will be his running mate, the Maine Fair Trade Campaign immediately looked into her record on trade issues.

"She has no record. She's never taken a position on trade agreements," said Sarah Bigney of the MFTC.